The city manager shall devote his entire time to the discharge of his official duties, shall attend all meetings of the council unless excused therefrom by the mayor or council president and keep the council advised at all times of the affairs and needs of the city and shall make annual reports or more frequent ones if requested by the council, of all the affairs and departments thereof.
He shall see that all ordinances are enforced and that the provisions of all franchises, leases, contracts, permits, and privileges granted by the city are fully observed.
He shall appoint all officers and employees except the municipal judge, and treasurer and remove them at pleasure, and have general supervision and control over them and their work with power to transfer from one department to another, and shall exercise supervision and control over the departments to the end of obtaining the utmost efficiency in each of the departments. He shall have no control, however, over the council, the treasurer, or the judicial activities of the municipal judge.
He shall act as purchasing agent for all departments of the city. All purchases shall be made by requisition signed by the city manager.
He shall be responsible for the preparation and submission to the budget committee of the general budget estimate and such reports as may be required by that body.
He shall perform such other duties as may be required by the charter or as the council may require of him.
Seats at council meetings. The manager shall be entitled to a seat with the council, but shall have no vote therein. The manager shall have the right to take part in the discussion of all matters coming before the council.
Manager pro tem. In case of the absence of the manager from the city, of his temporary disability to act as a manager, of his resignation as manager, or of discharge of him by the Council, and in the interim pending the appointment of the first manager by the council, the council shall appoint a manager pro tem who shall possess the powers and discharge the duties of the manager during such absence or disability only; but a manager pro tem shall have no authority to appoint or remove any city officer or employ except with the approval of a majority of the Council. No manager pro tem shall hold his position for more than six months unless by reappointment.
Interference in administration. No councilman shall in any manner, directly or indirectly, by suggestion or otherwise, attempt to influence or coerce the Manager in the making of any appointment or removal or in the purchase of supplies, or attempt to exact any promise relative to any appointment from any candidate for manager, or discuss, directly or indirectly with any such candidate, the matter of appointments to any city office or employments. Any violation of the foregoing provisions of this section will work a forfeiture of the office of the offending member of the council; provided, however, that nothing therein contained shall be construed as prohibiting the council while in open session, from discussing with or suggesting to the manager, fully and freely, anything pertaining to city affairs and for the best interests of the city. Neither the manager nor any person in the employ of the city shall take part in securing or contribute any money toward the nomination or election of any candidate for a municipal office. (Section 20a added by an election held November 8, 1960)